Equipment for flue gas extraction in cutting devices,particularly for continuous casting installations



United States Patent [72] Inventor Alfred Pfeulfer [5 6] ReferencesCited Neu-Isenburg, Germany UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] Appl. No. 675,846Filed Oct 17 1967 2,361,861 10/1944 Masowich 98/115 3,291,470 12/1966Cotz 266/23 [45] Patented Nov. 10, 1970 3,375,862 4/1968 Boitchenko etal. 164/263X [73] Asslgnee Messer Griesheim GmbH,

Frankfunam Main Germany 1 3,428,112 2/1969 Cuscmo 164/263X a corporationof Germany FOREIGN PATENTS [32] Priority Oct. 26, 1966 821,836 11/1951Germany 98/115 E 31 33 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser AssistantExaminerR. Spencer Annear AttorneyConnolly and Hutz ABSTRACT: Fume gasextraction equipment in cutting EQUIPMENT FOR FLUE GAS EXTRACTION INdevices utilized in continuous casting installations for cutting CUTTINGDEVICES PARTICULARLY FOR the continuously cast workpiece into segmentswherein the CONTINUOUS CASTEING INSTALLATIONS workpiece 1S movablysupported on spaced support elements 9 claims 5 Drawing g while thecutting device moves synchronously above it with the cutting operationtaking place between a pair of the sup- [52] U.S. Cl 266/23, portelements, is characterized by shielding the space beneath 164/263 thecutting operation --to collect the cutting slag both [51] lnt.Cl B23k7/10, laterally and at the frontal surfaces and providing an upper B22d11/12 covering connected to the support device between the pair of [50]Field 01' Search 266/15, support elements with a fixed exhaust passageor canal ar- 23K; 164/69, 263; 98/1 15 ranged at the collecting chamber.

o T 17 q 10 17 i2 1 12 16 13 E: 13 18 11 F 22 2Q 20 1 22 19 j 19Patented Nov. 10, 1970 3,539,168

Sheet I of 3 Patented Nov. 10, 1970 Sheet 2 of3 ZL 11w I Patent-ed Nov.1 0, 1970 Sheet EQUIPMENT FOR FLUE GAS EXTRACTION IN'CU'I'IING DEVICES,PARTICULARLY FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING INSTALLATIONS BACKGROUND OFINVENTION The invention relates to equipment for flue gas extraction incutting devices, particularly for continuous casting installations, forthe separation of a continuously moving workpiece, where the cuttingtorch is moved in the direction of movement of the workpiecesynchronously with the same and the workpiece is supported during thecutting process by a supporting device, preferably also movingsynchronously with the same, the supporting device consisting of aplurality of spaced supporting elements and whereby the movement rangeof the cutting torch relative to the workpiece extends between two ofthese supporting elements.

In employing the thermochemicalprocess for the separation of continuouscasting on steel or steel alloys fumes-result under the effect of theoxygen cutting stream. These fumes are characterized by a browncoloration and are particularly intense in cutting alloyed steel. Forreasons of purification of the working atmosphere and of protection ofthe mechanical equipment prior to welding, the fumes must be captivatedand drawn off. One solution to this problem has resulted in drawing offthe less infiltrated air with the fumes.

The bent continuous workpiece, which moves horizontally in moderncontinuous casting installations, is supported in the area of theseparation cutting equipment usually by a roll table or roller chain.The latter solution is especially preferred for billets, ingots andsmall iron slabs.

According to the width of the cast workpiece, the roller chain is moreor less covered. For catching the fumes forming directly in the vicinityof the cutting torch, the following solutions have been known until now:

Suction funnels, for example, were arranged above the cutting machine.The coconduction of movable hoses encounters considerable constructivedifficulties in this area and is very expensive.

As a further solution it is known to suspend a funnel in the rollerchain in such a manner that the cutting torches beam their exhaust gasesinto the funnel orifice. At the same time this funnel serves for thedrawing off of the resulting cutting slag. The funnel was provided witha lateral exhaust pipe and a hose or a slot guide was also arranged inanexhaust canal. Even this solution has proved to be very expensive.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The object of this invention is to eliminate theabove disadvantages.

To solve this problem, the space for the collection of the cutting slagsituated underneath the support device is screened laterally in the basearea and at the frontal surfaces and the upper covering devicesconnected with'the supporting device are arranged between theneighboring supporting elements of the supporting device-exclusive ofthe movement range of the cutting torch-with a fixed exhaust canal beingarranged at the collecting chamber.

By the lateral screening of the collecting chamber'which extendsunderneath the supporting device, for example by retractingcorresponding walls, a collecting chamberfor slag and fumes is formedunderneath the passagewayof the cutting machine and extending over itsentire length from which the slag can be removed by lateral openings orby suitable conveying means. By the inventive covering devices, theintake cross section for infiltrated air is considerably decreased andthus the concentration of the fume particles is intensely increased inthe drawn off exhaust gas.

The attached plates extend suitably over the entire movement range ofthe cutting machine or the support device, so that in each position ofthe latter, an almost completecovering of the top side is achievedagainst the fume collection chamber under the support device. The fumesare drawn off from the collection chamber at a suitable point bythenovel, rigidly arranged canal.

under each workpiece. Furthermore, a single shielding enclos- I ing theentire'installation suffices advantageously.

In order to afford an easy access of the'laterally shielded collectingchamber, it is proposed in an advantageousfurther development of theinvention, that the covering devices be detachably connected with thesupporting device.

In view of the arrangement and construction of the covering device,which can take place basically at random in the scope of the aboveinventive idea, it is proposed for reasons of a simple operation as wellas easy and cheap fabrication, that at the covering'device, there be aplate which is provided with forklike ends directed downwards whichoverlap the pins of the like connected with the supporting device.

The stabilization of the plates in the movement direction of theworkpiece takes place by means of the forklike plate ends orbifurcations, while the plates are held in a vertical direction by their'own weight. Basically it is sufficient if only one plate end isconstructed in a forklike manner.

The lateral stabilization of the upper covering device is feasible invaried ways. In the case where a chain with rollers as supportingelements serves as the supporting device with the rollers beingconnected by two parallel shackles or links, it is suitable that thecovering device be arranged between the parallel shackles. If a movablesupport carriage serves as the supporting device, a correspondingsolution is possible. If the supporting device consists of a stationaryroller, lowerable in the cutting range, it is recommended to constructthe covering device to be also lowerable or to be laterally swingableout of the way.

The plates serving as the covering device can basically be constructedas desired, for example to be level. Preferably it is proposed, however,that the plates be tilted upwards in rooffashion. Thereby theirstiffness is increased. Furthermore, the slants advantageously serve forthe conveying off the cinders falling from the workpiece. In addition,during heating, for example by the red-hot workpiece, no downwardbuckling of the plates is possible.

In case the spacing of both of the workpiece support rollers arranged atboth sides of the cutting area exceeds considerably the extent of thecutting area, it is suitable that the movement range of the cuttingtorch is limited by a plate on both sides and that the two plates forman angle opening downwards.

Advantageously the eventual possibility of drawing in infiltrated air isthereby limited to a minimum even for the movement range of the cuttingtorch open upwards per se.

THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION As seen fromthe drawing, rollers 11which represent component parts of a roller chain serve for the supportof the workpiece 10 in the cutting area. Rollers 11 have wheels 12 atthe sides which are conveyable on guiding rails 13. The individualrollers 11 are connected by shackles or links M, 14a as is particularlyobvious from FIGS. 2--5. Links I4 can be made continuous from one pieceor they can be composed of two parts. The latter version is illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. I, on the shackles or links 14 of the roller chain acutting device 16 is attached having a swingable cutting torch 15. Thecutting installation and thus also the roller chain are clampable to theworkpiece by means of a pressure medium activated clamping device 17, sothat the movement of the cutting installation in the direction of theworkpiece takes place synchronously with the workpiece and thus itsseparation during its continuous longitudinal movement is possible.

As is further shown in FIG. 1, guiding rails 13 for wheels 12 of rollers11 of the roller chain are supported on plates 18 which in turn arearranged on carriers 19. Carriers 19 are firmly anchored in thefoundation 29 of the installation by vertical supports 20. The space 21extending between carriers 19 and supports 20 below rollers 11 isshielded laterally and at the frontal surfaces by walls 22.

The shielding of space 21 from'above occurs by means of roof-shapedplates 23, according to FIGS. 2 and 3, which are arranged between twoadjacent rollers 11. One of these plates 23 is illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3. Roof-shaped plate 23 is swingably supported by its one end on apin 24. The other end of plate 23 is bifurcated and has two fork arms25, 26, directed downwards, which are engaged with pin 27. Pins 24, 27are attached to the shackles or links 14, 14a ofthe roller chain.

A complete covering of the space between two rollers lla, llb of theroller chain may not take place in the operating range of the cuttingtorch I5, since on the one hand the flue.

gases resulting during cutting must reach into the abovedescribed,shielded space 21, and on the other hand a continuous covering plate inthe operating range of the cutting torch would become damagedimmediately by the cutting flame. According to the invention, for thisreason two single'plates 28, 28a arranged between the particular rollers11a, llb (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the roller chain. The plates 28, 28a thusexpose the operating range of the cutting torch designated with a. Wherethe roller distance in the operating range of the cutting torch issufficiently small, such plates can be omitted. The drawing off of thefume gases, advantageously concentrated by the all-round shielding ofspace 21, from space 21 can take place at any desired spot of same, andsuitably laterally. FIG. 1, for example schematically illustrates thefume gases being drawn through pipes 32 into exhaustor 33.

The embodiment disclosed in the text of the application and illustratedin the drawing serves for clarifying the invention, which need not belimited to this example. Furthermore, various modifications are possiblewithout thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim: 1. In equipment for fume gas extraction in cutting devices ofcontinuous casting installations wherein thecontinuously cast workpieceis movably supported on a moving supporting device having spacedsupporting elements and cutting means mounted for moving synchronouslywith and above the workpiece during the cutting operation to cut theworkpiece into segments with the cutting operation taking place betweena particular pair .of the supporting elements, characterized in that afume collecting space is disposed under said supporting device, saidspace being defined by shielding means at the sides and the ends andbottom thereof, said space commitnicating with said supporting device,to collect the slag under means is detachably connected to said suporting device.

3. In equipment as set forth in claim 2 w erein said covering means is aplatehaving a downwardly directed forklike end, pin means being on saidsupporting device, and said forklike end straddling said pin means.

4. In equipment as set forth in claim 3 wherein pivot pin means issecured to said supporting device, and the other end of said plate beingpivotally connectedto said pivot pin means.

5. In equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting deviceis a roller chain with the rollers connected to each other by parallellinks, and said covering means being disposed between said parallellinks.

6. In equipment as set forth in claim 5 wherein said covering meansincludes upwardly tilted roof-shaped plate means.

7. In equipment as set forth in claim 1 including further covering meansdisposed between said particular pair of supporting elements in saidmovement range.

8. In equipment as set forth in claim 7 wherein said further coveringmeans includes a pair of angularly directed plates spaced from eachother at their upper ends a distance equal to the range of movement ofthe cutting device to limit the movement of the cutting device.

9. In equipment as set forth in claim 7 wherein said covering meansincludes a plate having a forklike end, pin means being on saidsupporting device, said forklike end straddling said pin means, pivotpin means being on said supporting device, and the other end of saidplate being pivotally connected to said pivot pin means.

